Introducing Piano/Keyboard for Children

A Group Course for Beginners Aged 6-8

Taking place in the New School’s Digital Piano Lab and designed for absolute beginners, Introducing Piano/Keyboard for Children is a lively and enjoyable course in which children aged 6-8 explore many of the basic elements of music and the piano. While learning about the instrument, both individually and together, they also:

Develop their understanding of pulse and rhythm through clapping and singing exercises.

Sing songs using solfège (do-re-mi) before playing them on the keyboard, which helps to develop each child’s ‘inner ear’ and sight singing skills.

Do memory aural work (playing short melodies by ear).

Learn to read treble and bass clefs.

Group learning has long been recognised as one of the most effective ways to teach children about music and instil positive lifetime attitudes towards both music and learning. A group environment provides children with the opportunity to make music together with friends and classmates, sharing common goals and skills. The interaction between students also encourages and promotes understanding, and children learn to assess their peers positively.

Children entering this course must have access to an acoustic piano, digital piano or electronic keyboard for regular practice, and parents should purchase John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course, Revised Edition, Book 1 by John Thompson and Music Theory for Young Children, Book 1 by Ying Ying Ng before the course begins.

Andrew Hogan

Andrew began his music training at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he studied pianoforte performance and music theory and was awarded distinctions in both a London College of Music performance diploma and an ABRSM teaching diploma. He graduated from University College Dublin with an honours BA in Music and French and also studied pipe organ for two years (he is currently organist at Church of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom at University College Dublin). More recently, Andrew was awarded distinction in a City and Guilds Higher Diploma in Sound Engineering and Music Technology, and in addition to a busy teaching schedule he also works as a freelance music producer, producing music for short films as well as a self-produced EP. Andrew has worked with a wide range of students of varying ages and levels both at the New School, where he has taught since 2011, and other schools in Dublin. He has also prepared students for examinations in both Piano and Music Theory with all major music examining bodies.

‘Andrew is a lovely teacher and has lots of patience. The kids are always happy going to their lessons and pick it up very quickly.’ – A. Lainn

‘I am writing just to let you know how good an experience we had with the Waltons New School of Music last year. Our then six-year-old son did the [Introducing Piano/Keyboard for Children] course last year, and his progress throughout the year was way beyond any expectation we had. I have recommended the school to a number of people and will continue to do so. I believe my son’s experience with the school may well have given him something that will enhance his entire life. Thanks and well done to you all.’ – P. Woodfull

Has your child taken – or is he/she taking – this course? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about it.

Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the course fee. Places in each class are limited to eight, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Most of our group courses are fully booked well in advance of their start dates, so early enrolment is recommended.

Purchasing this course as a gift? Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.

Two weeks before the end of each ‘Introducing’ course, parents will be given options for continuing their children’s tuition at the school if they would like to do so. Although a continuation ‘Improvers’ course cannot generally be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability. Students can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or ‘partner’ lessons with another class member (see Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons). We are happy to discuss these options with you.